Educational Systems Consulting
ViKiwi applies business management methodologies to identify problems, and to design and implement solutions that will help improve student achievement. And given that technology can be an important component of any solution, ViKiwi maintains a strong capability in technology that can help districts both “build” or “buy” solutions.
But while the appropriate use of technology can improve the performance of every student, and make every school district a more efficient and enjoyable place to work, ViKiwi knows that technology alone is never the answer. ViKiwi helps districts with some of their most important challenges by leading teachers and leaders to recognize all sides of an issue and to formulate and implement comprehensive solutions that may include process, cultural and organizational changes, as well as technology, that can improve teaching and learning, and the way the districts run.
Through daily interactions with district personnel at many levels, Vikiwi consultants have developed an appreciation of the challenges facing school districts and the complexity of the environment, especially within the context of No Child Left Behind. ViKiwi has recognized that sustainable reform depends on careful change management and building district capacity to continue the initiatives after they have departed.
The way we work
Strengthen Leadership Capacity
One of our primary objectives in every engagement is to strengthen the leadership capacity of the district in which we work. ViKiwi follows disciplined methodologies proven in business to result in the best outcomes, and we mentor leaders and staff to follow these management practices. We foster an environment of mutual respect, and lead the team to set high expectations, to stay focused on its goals, and to hold itself accountable for the results.
We de-mystify technology for leaders, and help them understand the opportunities it affords, its limitations, and how to make the best decisions. We help leaders integrate technology into the district’s strategic plan, and into departmental operational plans, to fully leverage technology towards helping increase student achievement.
Disciplined Project Management
Quite often, a project’s failure to meet expectations often is due to lack of clearly defined objectives upfront, and/or weak implementation, rather than the quality of the idea or the technology itself. The success of most projects requires establishing a collaborative environment, maintaining executive sponsorship and the participation of many departments and vendors, and may require implementing technology, developing curriculum, training teachers, and a myriad of other cross-functional tasks. ViKiwi holds everything together with disciplined project management, and coaches district personnel on this approach. We develop vision statements, we maintain project plans, and we track issues and risks to build a structure around each project that help orchestrate all the pieces so that they fit together to meet everyone’s expectations.
Comprehensive Professional Development
We recognize that in many cases, reform will require dramatic behavioral changes that will need to be nurtured by comprehensive professional development. ViKiwi applies problem-solving methodologies proven in business to help develop school districts into high performing organizations. We regard building the capacity within the district to apply these management methodologies as one of the most important objectives of every engagement. As part of our accountability work, we develop teachers and leaders to adopt continuous improvement frameworks that emphasize planning, collaboration, early identification of issues, regular evaluation of progress and midcourse corrections. We develop a collaborative environment in which teachers and leaders find, analyze and share data and expertise for the benefit of all the district’s stakeholders.
Where we help
